Another Bitter Cold Morning

It's another bitter cold morning across the Stateline, with a Wind Chill Advisory in place across all of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. It continues through noon for Stephenson county, Whiteside, Carroll, and Jo Daviess counties. It expires at 11am for Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Ogle, Lee, DeKalb, Rock, Green, and Walworth counties.

Actual temperature readings this morning recorded between -5° to -14° and chills have fallen as low as -25°. Even with abundant sunshine, temperatures won't climb much, highs only reach the single digits.

The reason for the cold? Arctic air being brought in due to an arctic high pressure is one. But also very dry air, clear skies, and the recent snow pack are all causes of the extreme cold.

When it gets this cold, frostbite and hypothermia can happen in minutes. Uncovered skin and your hands and feet are all more susceptible to frostbite. Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce. That's why its always important to bundle up and dress in layers when it gets this cold. Make sure you are watching out for your four-legged friends as well, and make sure you are not leaving them outside for extended periods of time.

We aren't done with the extreme cold anytime soon, temperatures Thursday and Friday will climb into the teens. But, we get another reinforcing shot of arctic air again this weekend. High temperatures will be stuck in the single digits this weekend and overnight lows will be
dropping below zero as we ring in the New Year.